Traveling-bag



(No Model.)

G. W. STRATTAN.

TRAVELING BAG.

Patented July 16, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE \Y. STRATTAN, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRAVELING-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,042, dated July 16, 1889.

Application filed April 19, 1889. Serial No. 307,733- (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE \V. STRATTAN, of Altoona, county of Blair, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in lraveling-Bags, of which the followingis a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of traveling-bags which are provided with three latches, one in the center and one on each side of the mouth of the bag; and the object of my invention is to provide mechanism whereby the unlatching of the central latch will cause the unlaiching of the side latches, so that but a single motion is necessary to unfasten the bag.

My invention will be best understood after an explanation of the drawings in which it is illustrated, and its novel features are hereinafter clearly pointed out in the claims.

Reference being 110w had to the drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a traveling-bag provided with my improved device in the form which I consider the best adapted for use. Fig. 2 may be called a diagram in which the various parts making up my device in its preferred form are illustrated in perspective, though in a somewhat distorted relation to each other. Fig. 3 is an elevation of my improved device in its preferred form, partly sectioned; and Figs. 4 and 5 are similar elevations of my invention, representing modifications of the mechanism by which it can be embodied.

A is a traveling-bag; B, the central latch, which can be of any of the well-known forms, the one represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5 consisting of a casing through the top of which a push-button B projects, said button being attached to a cross-bar B on the end of which projecting lugs b I) extend upward, the pushbutton and cross-bar being held in an upward position by a spring C. Perforations Z) I) are formed in the inner face of the latch-eas- Catches D D are secured on the opposite rim of the bagin position to pass into the perforations I) when the bagis closed and engage the lugs Z).

In Fig. another well-known form of traveling-bag latch is illustrated, which differs from the one already referred to chiefly in that the motion is horizontal instead of vertical, B being a push-button, on the end of which a lug b is secured to engage with a latch similar to F, the spring 0 being used to hold thepush-button and latch in .proper position. The side latches illustrated in the drawings are also of familiar construction, consisting of a bar E, pivoted to a support E at 6 and having a projecting lug e at their outer ends.

A perforation c is formed in the supportingbar E to permit the lug e to pass down through the frame of the bag, and a spring 6 is arranged at the heel of the bar E to hold it normally in closed position. Catches F F, similar to the catches D D, are provided to engage the lug 6. These latches are secured either 011 the upper part or the sides of the frame. (See Figs. 3 and Coming now to the novel feature of my device, it consists, generallyspeaking, in combining with the central and side latches movable bars arranged with their inner ends in contact with or substantially in contact with the movable part of the central latch, so that the bars are caused to move when the latch is de-' pressed, and with their outer ends in or substantially in contact with the outer latches, so as to move the same when the bars are moved. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and l I have illustrated these bars G as pivoted levers, the pivots g being situated between the central and side latches. In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the inner ends 9 of the levers are situated beneath the cross-bar B of the central latch, so that the inner ends of the levers will be depressed and their outer ends lifted when the puslrbutton B is pushed upon. In Fig. i a wedge-surface b is formed upon the latch b and inclined wedge surfaces {1 {1 formed on the upwardly-bentinner ends of the lever-bars G. These are illustrated in perspective immediately below the elevation shown, and the motion of the push-button has the same effect in depressing the inner ends of the lovers and lifting their outer ends as in the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 5 the movable bars are secured in guides H H, &c., instead of being pivoted to the frame. \Vedgc-surfaccs Z) are formed on the cross-bar b and corresponding wedge-surfaces g g formed on the inner ends of the movable bars. The depression of the bar 19 will of course force the movable bars (marked G) outward. W O 0 illustrate springs, which may be used to draw the bars backward. In each construction the outer ends g g of the movable bars are bent so asv to pass through the rim of the bag and come in contact, or

substantially so, with the side latches, and it is of course evident that whenever the bars are moved the side latches are simultaneously unloosened also.

By using my improved device it is not only easier to unlatch the bag, but the throwing upof the side latches into the position illustrated in Fig. 2 is entirely unnecessary. The pressure of the movable bars raises the latches to a sufficient extent to unfasten the bag, and the spring 6 at once returns the side latches to their normal position when the pressure is removed.

It is of course evident that my improvement in no wise interferes with the customary arrangement for lockin g the central latch; and, in fact, my device can be applied to bags already completed in the usual way with but little trouble and expense.

I am aware that sliding bolts have been heretofore used with traveling-bags, which engage simultaneously with a number of pins to lock the bag, and that sliding bolts along the sides of the bag have been connected to bellcrank levers with the bolt on the top edge of the bag,so as to move it, such a construction being described in Morrows patent, No. 398,016. In my device, however, I employ the usual spring-catches used with traveling-bags; and

my improvement consists in combining with them movable bars, which, as described, are actuated by the unlatching of one of the catches, so as to simultaneously unlatch the others, my movable bars, however, not constituting a part of the lock or latch by which they are actuated.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a traveling-bag having central and side latches, movable bars secured on the bag-frame with one end substantially in contact with the movable part of the central latch,so,as to move with it, and their other ends substantially in contact with the side latches, so as to move them when the bars are moved, all substantially asspecified, and so that the unlatching of the central latch will unlatch the side latches.

2. In combination with a traveling-bag having central and side latches, lever-bars pivoted on the frame of the bag, with one end substantially in contact with the movable part of the central latch, so as to move with it, and their other ends substantially in contact with the side latches, so as to move them when the levers are moved, all substantially as specified, and so that the unlatching of the central latch will unlatch the side latches.

GEORGE W". STRATTAN.

Witnesses:

N. D. CoUcH, JAMES MORGAN. 

